VOA慢速英语2015 默克尔与奥巴马会晤 商讨外交解决乌克兰危机方案

 

Merkel, Obama Aim for Diplomatic Solution in Ukraine 默克尔与奥巴马会晤 商讨外交解决乌克兰危机方案

German Chancellor¹ Angela Merkel met with President Barack Obama in Washington Monday to talk about how to end the fighting in Ukraine. The two leaders then held a news conference to answer questions from the media.

President Obama said that providing Ukraine with weapons in its fight against Russian-supported separatists remains² a possibility. However, no decision has been made yet. The president said Russia is continuing its “aggression” against Ukraine by sending tanks and artillery³ to support the separatists. He said this was in violation⁴ of last September’s cease-fire agreement.

Chancellor Merkel said she hoped a diplomatic solution could be reached. She did not see a military answer to the conflict.

Some members of the Obama administration have expressed concern about arming Ukraine. Republicans in the U.S. Congress however are urging action. Officials in the Obama administration and European officials have noted⁵ that providing Ukraine with weapons could cause Russia to react militarily, which would further threaten civilians⁶.

Ms. Merkel, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Francois Hollande agreed to meet Wednesday in Minsk, Belarus, to talk more about a new cease-fire plan.

The European Union decided⁷ on Monday to delay placing restrictions⁸ on Ukrainian separatists and Russians. EU officials meeting in Brussels decided to wait until the four-nation meeting is completed.

Chinese billionaire executed on corruption⁹, murder charges

China has executed a businessman after a court found him guilty of leading an organized crime group.  Liu Han, his brother and three others were executed early Monday.  He was the head of the Hanlong Group, the largest private business in China’s Sichuan Province. His company invested in minerals, electricity, energy finance and property. The 48-year-old was said to have billions of dollars.  A court found him guilty of charges including murder and organizing gambling¹⁰.

Observers say the execution is part of China’s campaign against corruption.

Deadly bombings hit areas in and near Baghdad

Sixteen people have been killed in two bombings in and near Iraq's capital Baghdad. A suicide bomber¹¹ attacked an area of the city where mostly Shi’ite Muslims live, Monday. The bombings killed at least 16 people. One of Shiite Islam's holiest religious centers is in the area.

No one has claimed responsibility for the bombing. However, Sunni militants¹² often are blamed for attacks on Shiites. 

The second bomb exploded in an area north of Baghdad, killing¹³ at least two people.

On Sunday, at least 37 people were killed in a series of bombings that took place just hours after the end of a 10-year-old nighttime curfew.

Violence kills at least 25 at Soccer game in Cairo

Egypt's government has suspended soccer league matches after at least 25 people were killed in clashes between police and team supporters. The clashes took place at a sports center in Cairo on Sunday.

Observers said police tried to block people who were trying to force their way into the stadium. The police used barriers and teargas.

Music industry hands out honors in Los Angeles

And British musician Sam Smith won four Grammy awards Sunday, including best new artist. The 22-year-old singer-songwriter also won Grammys for best pop vocal¹⁴ album and record of the year.

Many people were surprised when the musician Beck won a Grammy for album of the year.

Singer Beyoncé won three Grammys. Rapper Pharrell Williams also won three Grammys including one for best pop solo performance for the song Happy.

The Grammy awards take place in Los Angeles, California. They honor performers and others involved in the music industry.

Words in the News

Cease-fire n. an agreement to stop fighting a war for a period of time so that a permanent agreement can be made to end the war

Campaign-n. a connected series of military actions during a war; a series of activities designed to produce a particular result

Album-n. a long musical recording¹⁵ on a record, CD, etc., that usually includes a set of songs

1 chancellor   

n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长

参考例句：

• They submitted their reports to the Chancellor yesterday.他们昨天向财政大臣递交了报告。
• He was regarded as the most successful Chancellor of modern times.他被认为是现代最成功的财政大臣。

2 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

3 artillery   

n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队)

参考例句：

• This is a heavy artillery piece.这是一门重炮。
• The artillery has more firepower than the infantry.炮兵火力比步兵大。

4 violation   

n.违反(行为)，违背(行为)，侵犯

参考例句：

• He roared that was a violation of the rules.他大声说，那是违反规则的。
• He was fined 200 dollars for violation of traffic regulation.他因违反交通规则被罚款200美元。

5 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

6 civilians   

平民，百姓( civilian的名词复数 )； 老百姓

参考例句：

• the bloody massacre of innocent civilians 对无辜平民的血腥屠杀
• At least 300 civilians are unaccounted for after the bombing raids. 遭轰炸袭击之后，至少有300名平民下落不明。

7 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

8 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

9 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

10 gambling   

n.赌博；投机

参考例句：

• They have won a lot of money through gambling.他们赌博赢了很多钱。
• The men have been gambling away all night.那些人赌了整整一夜。

11 bomber   

n.轰炸机，投弹手，投掷炸弹者

参考例句：

• He flew a bomber during the war.他在战时驾驶轰炸机。
• Detectives hunting the London bombers will be keen to interview him.追查伦敦爆炸案凶犯的侦探们急于对他进行讯问。

12 militants   

激进分子，好斗分子( militant的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The militants have been sporadically fighting the government for years. 几年来，反叛分子一直对政府实施零星的战斗。
• Despite the onslaught, Palestinian militants managed to fire off rockets. 尽管如此，巴勒斯坦的激进分子仍然发射导弹。

13 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

14 vocal   

adj.直言不讳的；嗓音的；n.[pl.]声乐节目

参考例句：

• The tongue is a vocal organ.舌头是一个发音器官。
• Public opinion at last became vocal.终于舆论哗然。

15 recording   

n.录音，记录

参考例句：

• How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。